# Israel's Knesset Passes Basic Law on Torah Study
The Israeli Knesset has passed a Basic Law declaring Torah study a constitutional value. The legislation was approved by the coalition despite significant opposition from legal officials, the Israeli Defense Force, military reservists, and opposition parties in parliament.
The Basic Law is designed to help facilitate the continued broad exemption of ultra-Orthodox young men from mandatory military service. According to the coalition, the legislation establishes Torah study as a foundational constitutional principle in Israeli law.
The passage of this legislation represents a major achievement for the coalition government, though it has generated substantial controversy across multiple sectors of Israeli society, including legal experts, military leadership, and political opposition. The law's implications for military conscription policy and Israel's secular-religious balance remain significant points of contention.
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